Baylor College of Medicine 3rd Annual Opioid Use Disorder Conference 2025

Evidence-Based Management of Opioid Use Disorder, Chronic Pain, Medication-Assisted Treatment, and Addiction Care

Baylor College of Medicine 3rd Annual Opioid Use Disorder Conference 2025 is a comprehensive educational program designed to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to diagnose, treat, and manage Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) using evidence-based approaches. Developed in response to the ongoing opioid epidemic and evolving regulatory requirements, this course provides practical guidance on medication-assisted treatment, withdrawal management, chronic pain care, harm reduction strategies, and patient-centered addiction medicine.

Through expert-led lectures, case-based discussions, and multidisciplinary perspectives, participants learn how to recognize opioid use disorder, overcome barriers to treatment, apply person-first communication principles, and integrate pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions into clinical practice. The program also addresses challenges surrounding chronic pain management, opioid prescribing, overdose prevention, and continuity of care for individuals affected by substance use disorders.

Course Overview

The opioid crisis remains one of the most significant public health challenges in the United States, affecting millions of individuals, families, and healthcare systems. Healthcare providers across multiple specialties increasingly encounter patients struggling with opioid misuse, dependence, withdrawal, overdose risk, and coexisting psychiatric or medical conditions.

In alignment with evolving educational requirements and modern addiction medicine principles, this conference provides practical, evidence-based education focused on improving access to treatment and reducing the stigma associated with substance use disorders.

Participants gain the clinical knowledge necessary to confidently diagnose opioid use disorder, initiate treatment, manage withdrawal, and support long-term recovery through a patient-centered approach.

Course Opens: April 11, 2025

Included Content

• 12 Video Lectures
• 12 Audio Recordings
• 12 Subtitle Files (.vtt)
• Expert Faculty Presentations
• Case-Based Clinical Discussions

Total Size: 4.96 GB

Comprehensive Curriculum

Understanding Opioid Use Disorder

Participants review:

• Epidemiology of the opioid epidemic
• Risk factors for opioid misuse
• Neurobiology of addiction
• Diagnostic criteria for OUD
• Disease progression
• Public health impact
• Stigma and barriers to care

Faculty discuss current trends and challenges in addiction medicine.

Diagnosis and Clinical Assessment

Coverage includes:

• Screening tools
• Substance use history
• Risk assessment
• Severity classification
• Co-occurring psychiatric disorders
• Physical examination findings
• Clinical evaluation strategies

Participants learn systematic approaches to identifying OUD in diverse clinical settings.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

Extensive instruction covers:

• Buprenorphine treatment
• Methadone therapy
• Naltrexone treatment
• Patient selection
• Induction protocols
• Maintenance therapy
• Monitoring treatment response

Faculty emphasize practical implementation of evidence-based pharmacologic therapies.

Opioid Withdrawal Management

Topics include:

• Recognition of withdrawal symptoms
• Assessment tools
• Withdrawal treatment strategies
• Symptom management
• Medication protocols
• Outpatient versus inpatient management

Participants gain confidence in managing acute withdrawal safely and effectively.

Chronic Pain and Opioid Stewardship

The course explores:

• Chronic pain assessment
• Appropriate opioid prescribing
• Risk mitigation strategies
• Non-opioid pain treatments
• Multimodal pain management
• Opioid tapering approaches
• Safe prescribing practices

Special emphasis is placed on balancing pain control with addiction prevention.

Psychotherapeutic Approaches

Coverage includes:

• Motivational interviewing
• Behavioral interventions
• Cognitive behavioral therapy principles
• Relapse prevention strategies
• Recovery-oriented care
• Patient engagement techniques

Participants learn how psychosocial interventions complement medication-based treatment.

Barriers to Treatment Access

Sessions review:

• Healthcare disparities
• Insurance challenges
• Regulatory barriers
• Transportation issues
• Social determinants of health
• Stigma within healthcare systems

Faculty discuss strategies to improve treatment accessibility and patient retention.

Harm Reduction and Overdose Prevention

Topics include:

• Naloxone distribution
• Overdose recognition
• Community interventions
• Safer prescribing
• Risk reduction counseling
• Public health approaches

Participants learn methods to reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality.

Person-First Language and Patient-Centered Care

Specialized instruction focuses on:

• Reducing stigma
• Person-first communication
• Therapeutic alliance building
• Trauma-informed care
• Cultural sensitivity
• Ethical considerations

The program emphasizes compassionate and respectful patient interactions.

Referral Pathways and Continuity of Care

Participants review:

• Outpatient addiction treatment resources
• Behavioral health referrals
• Recovery support services
• Care coordination
• Community partnerships
• Long-term treatment planning

Practical guidance is provided for establishing effective referral networks.

Special Populations

The course discusses OUD management in:

• Psychiatry patients
• Emergency medicine settings
• Family medicine practices
• Internal medicine clinics
• Obstetrics and gynecology populations
• Community-based healthcare settings

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Apply evidence-based pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic treatments for Opioid Use Disorder.
• Recognize barriers that limit access to OUD treatment.
• Utilize person-first language to improve patient communication and reduce stigma.
• Identify signs and symptoms of opioid use disorder and opioid withdrawal.
• Initiate appropriate treatment plans for patients with OUD.
• Incorporate medication-assisted treatment into clinical practice.
• Implement safer opioid prescribing practices.
• Improve referral and care coordination strategies.
• Support long-term recovery through multidisciplinary approaches.
• Enhance confidence in managing addiction-related clinical challenges.

Educational Features

✔ Baylor College of Medicine Faculty

✔ Evidence-Based Addiction Medicine

✔ Medication-Assisted Treatment Training

✔ Opioid Withdrawal Management

✔ Chronic Pain Management Strategies

✔ Harm Reduction Education

✔ DEA-MATE Relevant Content

✔ Patient-Centered Communication

✔ Case-Based Clinical Learning

✔ Multidisciplinary Treatment Approaches

Target Audience

This course is designed for:

• Psychiatrists
• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Family Medicine Physicians
• Internal Medicine Physicians
• Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Addiction Medicine Specialists
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Behavioral Health Providers
• Residents and Fellows
• Community Healthcare Professionals

Why This Course Matters

The management of opioid use disorder has become an essential competency for clinicians across multiple specialties. As opioid-related morbidity and mortality continue to impact communities nationwide, healthcare professionals must be equipped with practical tools for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and recovery support.

Baylor College of Medicine 3rd Annual Opioid Use Disorder Conference 2025 provides comprehensive, evidence-based training that empowers clinicians to deliver compassionate, effective, and patient-centered care while addressing one of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time.

 Topics:

• 01 A System Lens on Treating Patients with Substance Use Disorders
• 02 To Eliminate Hepatitis C, Treat Those Who Inject Drugs
• 03 Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research (CBEAR)
• 04 Managing Opioid Withdrawal in the Emergency Department – ED-Initiated Buprenorphine
• 05 What do Buprenorphine Levels Really Tell Us Quantitative Analyses in Relation to Clinical Response
• 06 Co-Occurring Stimulant and Opioid Use Disorders, A Clinical Challenge
• 07 Technology Advances in Substance Use Treatment
• 08 Expansion of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in Correctional Facilities
• 09 Community-Based, Specialized SUD Treatment for Women and Families
• 10 ADHD, Opioids, and the Family – Protecting Vulnerable Youth
• 11 Implementation of a Tobacco-Free Workplace Program in Opioid Treatment Centers in Texas – Findings and Future Directions
• 12 The Pharmacology of CNS Depressant Polypharmacy That is Bringing Us Down